About the Book
A heartwarming and playful novel about the ones we love and the ones we lose by the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year
What would you do if ‘the one that got away’ turned up the night before your wedding?
Head-in-the-stars Audrey is about to marry down-to-earth Josh. Though they are polar opposites, they have a healthy, stable relationship; Josh is just what Audrey needs. But romance should be unpredictable and full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey’s found herself wondering if Josh really is “The One.”
So, when Josh’s sister shows up to the rehearsal dinner with Fred, Audrey’s “What If? guy”—the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with—Audrey finds herself torn. Surely Fred’s appearance the night before she is due to get married can’t be a coincidence. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to ask herself: Is fate trying to stop her from making a huge mistake? Or does destiny just have a really twisty sense of humor?
My Review
What a delightful and clever rom com. I was hooked on Before I Do before I was even into chapter 2. While Audrey begins to question if her almost-husband Josh is really her soulmate, a blast from the pasts pops up at her rehearsal dinner – the guy who got away. Was it fate that Fred showed up with Josh’s sister? Is it a sign from above saying Audrey shouldn’t go through with the wedding – or are all the other mini (and almost major) disasters that are happening over the weekend proof enough she shouldn’t go through with saying I Do? We are switched seamlessly from past and present, understanding how Audrey met and fell in love with Josh, but also how she met Fred – and why they’re relationship never progressed beyond one amazing first date.
This book is delightfully romantic in a not very bold way – instead of over the top dates and fancy locations, the romance is about the way a partner treats you, respects you, and wants to build a future with you. It’s about the quiet moments, the serious times, and what it really means to have a true partnership, even when tested. It’s thoughtful in a way that had me pausing between scenes, wondering how I would have reacted if I were Sophie – or even Josh. There are humorous moments throughout, the secondary cast adds a lot of depth, and I enjoyed that I truly wasn’t sure how the story would end. Who would Sophie choose? Would she actually find happiness? The unpredictability in an often-predicable genre was a refreshing change and I highly recommend this one.
5 stars
